Periodic reversing contactor



Oct. 2, 1962 L. MAGER 3,056,875

PERIODIC REVERSING coNTAcToR Filed Dec. 2s, 1960 fir/.5.

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United States aree 3,056,875 PERIODIC REVERSNG CNTACTOR Lincoln Mager, 2610 Doreen Ave., El Monte, Calif. Filed Dec. 23, 196i), Ser. No. 77,944 4 Claims. (Cl. Zitti-65) This invention relates to electrical plating, and, particularly to a switching structure therefor.

In electroplating it has been found desirable periodically to reverse the direction of current ow. Thus it may be desirable to have the anode bars operate as cathodes and the cathode bars operate as anodes for a short percentage of time. A switching structure must of necessity have high current carrying capabilities corresponding to the high current requirements in usual plating processes. In the past, periodic reversal of current flow has been accomplished by providing several heavy duty relays operating in parallel, together with appropriate timer circuits for controlling the operation of the relays. The difliculty is that the relays do not operate simultaneously and there may be a time lag of several microseconds. The result is that the heavy currents must redistribute themselves amo-ng the contacts and there is a substantial danger of burning out the contacts. A serious maintenance problem has resulted.

The object of this invention is to provide for the rst time a single high current capacity switch for accomplishing the periodic reversing functions. Another object of this invention is to provide a periodic reversing contactor of high current carrying capacity for use in connection with electroplating processes that is uniquely simple in its construction, yet completely effective in operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide unique means for mounting large terminal structures.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pneumatically hydraulically actuated periodically reversing contactor that is susceptible of ready control by a timer structure.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose, there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specication. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a periodic reversing contactor embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof with a portion of the apparatus broken away and illustrated in section;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the contactor taken along a plane indicated by line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken along planes indicated by lines 4 4 and 5-5 respectively of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of one of the terminals forming a part of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the manner in which the periodic reversing contactor cooperates with the electroplating structure.

In FIG. 7 there is illustrated an electroplating tank 111. Two anode bars 11 are located adjacent the side walls of the tank, and a cathode bar 12 is located between the anode bars 11. In a well understood manner, the part to be plated is attached to the cathode bar. The parts submerged in the electrolytic bath contained by the tank are subjected to deposition of material, as a current passes between the anodes 11 and the cathode 12 via the part.

To provide the requisite current, a D.C. power source 13 is provided. The power source 13 has output leads 14 and 15 that normally connect respectively to the anode bars 11 and the cathode bar 12. However in order periodically to reverse the connection between the power source 13 and the anode and cathode bars 11 and 12, a periodic reversing contacter 16 is provided, that is interposed between the power source 13 and the anode and cathode bars 11 and 12.

The periodic reversing contactor 16, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, has four terminals 17, 18, 19 and Ztl of substantial size that may be made by casting processes. The terminals 17 and 18 are identical input terminals to which the leads 14 and 15' are connected. The terminals 19 and 2i? are output terminals that cooperate with leads 21 and 22 that respectively connect with the anode and cathode bars 11 and 12. The contactor connects the input terminals 17 and 1S to the output terminals 19 and Ztl respectively, or alternately to the output terminals 2@ and 1@ respectively.

The leads 14-15, 21-22 are heavy stranded cables each having brackets 23 (FIG. 3) at their ends by the aid of which connections can be established to the terminals. One end of each bracket is tubularly formed as at Z4 for reception of the end of the corresponding cable or lead. A set screw 25 secures the lead. The other end of the bracket has a flattened part as at 2a that may be placed in juxtaposed relationship to a part of the corresponding terminal. These are standard parts.

The input terminals 17 and 18 are generally of H- shaped configuration, and are supported in Vside-by-side relationship upon an insulation base 27 mounted on a support 2S. For this purpose, a generally rectangular insulation wall 29 is provided that extends at right angles from the base Z7, one edge resting on the base 27. The wall 29, as shown in FIG. 4, has four recesses receiving the bifurcations or legs of the terminals. Rccesses 3l? and 31 extend from its top edge, and recesses 32 and 33 extend inwardly from its lower edge. The bifurcations 34 and 35 of the terminal 17 fit the recesses 31 and 33, which are aligned, top to bottom, on one side of the wall, and the bifurcations 36 and 37 of the terminal 1S lit the recesses 30 and 32, which are aligned, top to bottom on the other side ot the wall. The bifurcations all project on one side of the wall 2.9, and the post portions 3S of the terminals are accessible on the other side.

Several machine screws 39, extending upwardly through the base 2.7, engage threaded apertures 40 in the lower surface of the mounting block 29. The lower bifurcations 35 and 37 of the respective terminals 17 and 18 are clamped to the upper surface of the base 27. To ensure this result, the thickness of the bifurcations may slightly exceed the depth of their recesses.

. The terminals 19 and 2t) are supported opposite the terminals 17 and 18. The output terminal 19, as shown in FIG. 6, has upper and lower bifurcations 41 and 42 integrally connected to a post portion 43. The bifurcations 41 and 42 are laterally offset from each other by an angularly extending connecting portion 44 therebetween. The bifurcations 41 and 42, being offset, are aligned with posts of the respective input terminals 17 and 13. The post portion projects through a recess 45 (FIG. 5) cut in the upper edge of a mounting wall 46 that supports the output terminals 19 and 20. The mounting wall 46 is supported on the base in spaced opposed relationship to the wall 29. In practice, the walls may be identical.

The connecting portion i4, of the terminal 19 is located along the inside of the mounting block 416, that is, on the side facing the terminals 17 and 13. The bifurcations 41 and 42 are aligned with, and, in spaced relationship, oppose the bifurcations 34 and 37 of the respective input terminals 17 and 18.

The terminal 2@ is generally similar to the terminal 19, having bifurcations 47 and 4S (FIG. 5) that are similarly offset from each other by an angular connecting portion 49. The bifurcations 47 and 4S extend through recesses E 50 and 51 formed in the mounting wall 46, the connecting portion 49 being located on the outside of the mounting wall 46. The bifurcations 47 and 48 are longer than those of the companion terminal 19 so that they terminate substantially at the same distance from the wall 46.

As is apparent from a consideration of FIG. 5, the lower bifurcation 48 of the terminal 20 is located immediately beneath the upper bifurcation 41 of the companion terminal 19. Similarly, the bifurcation 42 of the terminal 19 is located immediately beneath the upper bifurcation 47 of the companion terminal 2t). The bifurcations 47 and 48 of the terminal 2li are aligned with and oppose the bifurcations 36 and 35 of the respective terminals 18 and 17.

A series of machine screws 52 pass through the base 27 and engage portions of the :mounting block 46 located between the terminals parts as illustrated in FIG. to clamp the terminals in place.

A top block 53 of insulation material cooperates with the upper surfaces of the mounting blocks 29 and 46 and completes the clamping arrangement of the terminals. Machine screws 54 are provided for this purpose.

'Ihe terminals and the insulation mounting parts can be held together by other means, as for example, by encapsulating -them in epoxy or other plastic.

When the upper sets of aligned bifurcations 34, 41 and 36, 47 are connected together, the anode bars 11 will be connected to one output lead 14 from the power source 13, and the cathode bar 12 will be connected to the opposite lead 15. When the lower sets of aligned bifurcations are connected together, opposite connections are achieved by virtue of the offset relationship of the bifurcations of the output terminals 19 and 20.

Optionally, to establish such connections, four jumper bars 55, 56, 57 and 58 are provided for the four sets of aligned terminal bifurcations. The bars as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, are mounted upon an insulation support 59, that is reciprocable between the upper and lower bifurcation sets. Two jumper bars 55 and 56 are on the upper side of the support 59, and two are on the under side of the support 59. When the support 59 is moved upwardly, opposite ends of the bar 56 abut the under surfaces of the bifurcations 34 and 41 and opposite ends ofthe jumper bar 55 abut the under surfaces of the bifurcations 36 and 47.

When the support 59 is moved downwardly, the jumper bars 55 and 56 disengage and the jumper bars 57 and 58 engage the bifurcations 35, 48 and 37, 42. The areas of engagement, to ensure appropriate `conduction are at least twice the cross-sectional area of the terminal bifurcations. The length `of each jumper bar, less the spacing between the corresponding bifurcations is at least four times the thickness of the bifurcations, the width of the jumper bar corresponding to that of the terminal bifurcations.

The jumper bars are mounted upon the insulation support 59 by suitable cement. l

The support 59 is reciprocated by a hydraulic or pneumatic ymotor 60, supported on the upper surface of the top block 53 in registry with an aperture 61. Through this aperture a ram 62 projects. At the end of the ram the mounting block 59 is mounted between stop nuts 64 and 65, the end of the ram 62 being threaded for Vaccommodating the nuts.

In practice the motor 60 may be controlled by a pilot valve 66 (FIG. 7) in turn controlled by solenoids 67 and 63 `affected by an adjustable timer structure 69. The timer causes the rod 62 to be located in its normal up position `for a certain percentage of time and to shift cyclically to its lower position for the remainder of the time.

An insulation plateV 70, overlies and electrically shields central connecting portion 44 of the terminal 19.

The inventor claims:

l. In a periodic reversing Vcontactor: an insulation base; a pair of unitary input terminals each made singularly of homogeneous conductive material and having a post portion, bifurcations, and a connecting portion between the bifurcations; a tirst mounting block fitting the input terminals; means securing the first mounting block land said input terminals to said insulation base; the bifurcations of the input terminals all projecting on one side of said Ifirst mounting block; a pair of unitary output 4terminals each made singularly of homogeneous conductive material, and having a post portion, bifurcations, and a connecting portion between t-he bifurcations; a second mounting block fitting the output terminals; means securing the second mounting block and said output terminals to said insulation base and so that the bifurcations of one of said output terminals respectively oppose one bifurcation of each input terminal and so that the bifurcations of the other of said output terminals respectively oppose the other bifurcations of each input terminal; a movable support extending between the bifurcations; jumper bars on the support cooperable with the opposed bifurcations of the terminals; means for moving the support to opposite positions determined by engagement of the jumper bars with the bifurcations; the jumper bars at one limit connecting the first input terminal to the first output terminal and the second input terminal to the second ouput terminal, the jumper bar at the opposite limit connecting the first input terminal to the second output terminal .and the `second input terminal to the first output terminal.

2. In a periodic reversing conta-otor: an insulation base; a pair of unitary input terminals each made singularly of homogeneous conductive material and having a post portion, bifurcations, and a connecting portion between the bifurcations; a first mounting block fitting the input terminals; means securing the first mounting block and said input terminals to said insulation base; the bifurcations of the input terminals all projecting on one side of said first mounting block; a pair of unitary output terminals each made singularly of homogeneous conductive material, and having a post portion, bifurcations, and a connecting portion between the bifurcations; a second mounting block fitting the output terminals; means securing the second mounting block and said output terminals to said insulation base and so that the bifurcations of one of said output terminals respectively oppose one bifurcation of each input terminal and so that the bifurcations of the other of said output terminals respectively oppose the other bifurcations of each input terminal; the connecting portions of one pair of terminals crossing each other on opposite sides of the corresponding mounting block, one connecting portion being located on that side of the corresponding mounting block facing the other mounting block; a movable support extending between the bifurcations; jumper bars on the support cooperable with the opposed bifurcations of the terminals; means for moving the support -to opposite positions determined by engagement of the jumper bars with the bifurcations; the jumper lbars at one limit connecting the first input termin-al to the first output terminal and the second input termina-l to the second output terminal, the jumper bar at the opposite limit connecting the first input terminal to the second output terminal and the second input terminal to the first output terminal.

3. In a periodic reversing contactor: an insulation base; a pair of unitary input terminals each made singularly of homogeneous conductive material and hav-ing a post portion, bifurcations, anda connecting portion between the bifurcations; a first mounting block fitting the input terminals; means securing the first mounting block and said input terminals to said insulation base; the bifurcations of the input terminals all projecting on one side of said first mounting block; a pair of unitary output terminals each made singularly of homogeneous conduct-ive material, and having a post portion, bri-furcations, and a connecting portion between the bifurcations; a second mounting block fitting the output terminals; means securing the second mounting block and said output terminals to said insulation base and so that the bifurcations of one of said output terminals respectively oppose one bifurcation of each input terminal and so that the bifurcations of the other of said output terminals respectively oppose the other bifurcations of each input terminal; the connecting portions of one pair of terminals crossing each other on opposite sides of the corresponding mounting block, one connecting portion being located on that side of the corresponding mounting block facing the other mounting block; a shield for said one connecting portion; a movable support extending between the bifurcations; jumper bars on the support cooperable with the `opposed bifurcations of the terminals; means for moving the support to opposite positions determined by engagement of the jumper bars With the bifurcations; the jumper bars at one limit connecting the first input terminal to the first output terminal and the second input terminal to the second ouput terminal, the jumper bar at the opposite limit connecting the first-input terminal to the second output terminal and the second input terminal to the first ouput terminal.

4. In a periodic reversing cont-actor: an insulation base; a first tand a second insulation mounting block extending from the base in spaced, parallel relationship, with first edges abutting the insulation base; a top insulation block bridging the mounting blocks and abutting second edges of the mounting blocks; each mounting block having two recesses in each of its first and second edges, and defining with the top block and the base, four sets of apertures, each set comprising two apertures in the respective mounting blocks that `are laligned with respect to each other; a pair of input terminals each having a post portion, bifurcations and a connecting portion; the bifurcations of the first input terminal projecting through apertures of the first and Isecond sets and in the first mounting block located at said first and second edges respectively, the connection portion of the first input terminal being located on the outside of the rst mounting block `and the bifurcations thereof projecting on the inside thereof; the bifurcations of the second input terminal projecting through apertures of the third and fourth sets and in the first mounting block located at said first and second edges respectively, the connecting portion of the second input terminal being located on the outside of the first mounting block in spaced relationship to said connecting portion of said first input terminal, and the bifurcations of said second input terminal projecting on the inside of said first mounting block; a pair of output terminals each having a post portion; bifurcations and a connecting portion; the bifurcations of the first output terminal projecting through apertures of the first Vand fourth sets and in the Second mounting block located at said first and second edges respectively, the connecting portion of the first output terminal being located on the outside of the second mounting block and the bifurcations thereo-f projecting on the inside thereof; the post portion of the second output lterminal projecting through an aperture of the second set located at the second edge of said second mounting block, the connecting portion of the second output terminal and the bifurcations thereof being located on the inside of said second mounting block with the said bifurcations aligned with apertures of the second and third sets; an insulation support located between lthe bifurcations; a rod projecting through the top block and mounting said support; jumper bars mounted on the support for bridging bifurcations of the corresponding aperture sets; and a motor mounted on the outside of the top block for reciprocating the rod between opposite limits; the jumper bars at one limit respectively connecting the bifurcations of the second and fourth aperture sets, and at the opposite limi-t respectively connecting the bifurcations of the first and third sets.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

